Purple Martins at the Great Plains Nature Center

The Purple Martin Colony at the Great Plains Nature Center

Male with food
Male Purple Martin with an insect for his brood
All photos on this page by Charles Cope

The Great Plains Nature Center is the proud landlord for a colony of Purple Martins! These are the largest species of North American swallows, and are of special interest to people because they will use nests provided by humans. We put up our Purple Martin houses in spring 1999 and were pleasantly surprised to have full occupancy within a month!

In 2000 we documented the progress of our "tenants" on our web site. We had weekly updates on our little families, with pictures and information about our birds and Purple Martin natural history. Our birds raised 29 young in 2000. See the photos and information on these pages for what a "typical" nesting cycle is like.

	Click here for our May 2000 nest visits.
	Click here for our June 2000 nest visits.
	Click here for our July 2000 nest visits.

Click here for the 2010 record of nest monitoring.
We saw the first martins on March 23. All babies were fledged by July 20.

Click below to see how our colony did each year.

	2010 - 38 martins fledged!
	2009 - 32 martins fledged
	2008 - 31 martins fledged
	2007 - 15 martins fledged
	2006 - 11 martins fledged
	2005 - 8 martins fledged
	2004 was a total bust. A combination of cool, rainy weather and starling competition seem to have been the sources of our troubles.
	2003 - zero martins fledged
	2002 - 9 martins fledged
	2001 - 8 or more martins fledged
	2000 - 29 martins fledged

Purple Martins east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States use artificial nesting structures almost exclusively.

Our colony has eight units mounted in a circular array on a flagpole-like structure. Each unit is a white plastic artificial gourd with an entrance hole for the birds and a screw-on lid for checking the nest.

Our Purple Martin Colony

Because of problems with starlings, in 2005 we modified our nests with starling-excluding openings and they did their job well. Here is what the opening looks like. The platform has a non-skid material on it that gives the birds better traction for wiggling through the opening. There is a similar platform on the inside so they can wiggle back out again!

Starling excluder opening

Checking Nests

The whole contraption can be lowered with a rope and pulley for maintenance and inspection. The birds leave while this is being done, but otherwise they don't seem to mind very much. The gourd rack has a notch that fits into a bolt on the side of the pole at top, so the nests stay in the same compass position when they are raised back up. This is vital because the birds orient to the position of "their" nest, and will get confused if it changes its place.

Here is our new (2009) martin house.

It has eight units, each of which is made of painted sheet metal with porches and half-circle entry doors. There are also perches in between the units.

A cylindrical predator baffle is mounted just above the crank mechanism.

Our New Martin House

GPNC PURPLE MARTIN NEWS FOR 2010

	July 20 - All gourds are empty now. With the losses previously noted, we have fledged 38 martins this year, a new record!
	July 14 - Gourd 8 is now empty but we still have fledglings in gourds 2, 3 and 7. One of the babies died in gourd 3. Hopefully all the fleglings are capable enough to get out if they want to, as we will have an extremely high heat index today.
	July 6 - Four empty gourds this week, with four more about to be emptied. We lost one baby in gourd 7.
	June 29 - We have three empty gourds now. All the other babies are doing fine!
	June 22 - All the eggs have hatched now, and the babies in gourds 5 and 6 are ready to fledge. We lost one baby in gourd 4. If all of the rest survive we will have 40 new martins this year, which would be a record for us! There are still martins around the metal nest structure that act "offended" when anyone comes around, so we presume there is nesting there.
	June 15 - The eggs keep hatching, but some have yet to hatch. We have new babies in gourds 3 and 8, but gourds 2 and 7 are being slowpokes. We have 100% survival of our babies - 35 so far, with perhaps another 13 yet to come!
	June 8 - More babies! Gourd 4 has 6 hatchlings this week. The babies in gourd 7 are sprouting wing feathers already!. The eggs in gourds 2, 3, 7 & 8 should hatch by next week. We continue to have martin activity around the metal nest structure, so we are hopeful they will successfully nest there this year.
	June 1 - We have babies! Gourds 1, 5 and 6 have 15 new purple martins between them, with 3 unhatched eggs. Every gourd has eggs now! We also have martins using the metal nest structure shown above, but the nest boxes are not made for easy inspection so we will just visually monitor the activity for this season and add access doors in the fall so we will be ready for next year.
	May 26 - One more egg in Gourd 1, but no baby birds yet! Gourds 5 and 6 should have babies by next week, and hopefully there will be eggs in the four gourds that don't have any yet.
	May 19 - We have full occupancy! Every gourd has either eggs or a complete nest built in it. This looks like another very good year for our colony. Once again Gourd 6 has a seven egg clutch! One has to wonder if this is not the same female that was using that gourd last year.
	May 11 - We have two gourds with complete clutches of eggs and two others ready for eggs to be laid (the grass cup is lined with small green leaves). We have nest-building activity in all gourds, so we are off to a great start! There is still no activity around our metal nest house. This may be the last year we use this if the birds continue to ignore it.
	March 23 - We saw four martins on March 23, three males and one female. We are hoping for another great year for our birds!

Summary of nesting activity in our colony in 2010

Gourd Structure: Nest 1 faces East and they are numbered in clockwise order
(2 is Southeast, 3 is South, etc.).

Metal structure: Nest 1-4 in upper story; 1-E, 2-S, 3-W, 4-N
Nest 5-8 in lower story; 5-SE, 6-SW, 7-NW, 8-NE

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

20-July

empty

ALL GONE!

empty

ALL GONE!

empty

14-July

empty

3 fledgings

1 fledgling,
1 dead

empty

5 fledglings

ALL GONE!

6-July

empty

5 fledgings

4 fledglings

ALL GONE!

empty

5 fledglings

29-June

ALL GONE!

5 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 fledglings

ALL GONE!

6 nestlings

5 nestlings

22-June

4 nestlings

5 hatchlings

4 nestlings

5 nestlings

4 fledglings

7 fledglings

6 hatchlings

5 nestlings

15-June

4 nestlings

5 eggs

3 hatchlings
2 eggs

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

7 nestlings

6 eggs

5 hatchlings

8-June

4 nestlings

5 eggs

6 hatchlings

4 nestlings

7 nestlings

6 eggs

5 eggs

1-June

4 hatchlings
1 egg

2 eggs

5 eggs

6 eggs

4 nestlings
2 eggs

7 hatchlings

5 eggs

26-May

5 eggs

Complete nest

6 eggs

7 eggs (!!)

Complete nest

19-May

4 eggs

Complete nest

6 eggs

7 eggs (!!)

Complete nest

11-May

Complete nest

Partial nest

Complete nest

5 eggs

6 eggs

Partial nest

August 11, 2009 - Final Report: All the martins have departed the colony. We raised 32 martins this year - beating our previous record of 31 from 2008. Thousands of martins from throughout the area have massed into a migratory flock which has been observed roosting at night near downtown Wichita. We hope they have a good trip to Latin America this winter and look forward to seeing them return next spring! And we also hope those which return will investigate and use the new martin house we put up this year!

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

31-July

empty

partial nest

empty

15-July

ALL GONE!

partial nest

ALL GONE!

empty

ALL GONE!

5 nestlings

8-July

3 still inside

partial nest

2 still inside

4 still inside

3 still inside

ALL GONE!
1 dead nestling

4 still inside

5 nestlings

30-June

5 nestlings

partial nest

3 nestlings

6 nestlings

3 nestlings

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 nestlings

23-June

5 nestlings

partial nest

3 nestlings

6 nestlings

3 nestlings

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

4 hatchlings
1 egg

17-June

5 nestlings

partial nest

3 nestlings

6 nestlings

3 nestlings
1 infertile egg

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 eggs

8-June

5 eggs

partial nest

3 eggs

6 eggs

4 eggs

5 eggs,
2 hatchlings

4 eggs

5 eggs

3-June

5 eggs

partial nest

3 eggs

6 eggs

5 eggs

7 eggs (!!)

4 eggs

1 egg

26-May

4 eggs

partial nest

1 egg

6 eggs

2 eggs

7 eggs (!!)

2 eggs

partial nest

19-May

complete nest

partial nest

complete nest

partial nest

complete nest

partial nest

empty

13-May

partial nest

complete nest

partial nest

complete nest

partial nest

empty

5-May

empty

partial nest

empty

partial nest

empty

28-April

empty

partial nest

empty

partial nest

empty

July 10, 2008, Final Report - We fledged 31 martins this year. Our best year ever!

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

3-July

empty

ALL GONE!

3-July

empty

ALL GONE!

ALL GONE! (but one dead)

ALL GONE!

5 nestlings

26-June

ALL GONE!

empty

5 nestlings

2 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 nestlings

19-June

1 egg,
2 nestlings

empty

5 nestlings

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 nestlings

12-June

1 egg,
2 nestlings

empty

5 nestlings

6 nestlings

4 nestlings

5 nestlings

5 hatchlings

5-June

1 egg,
2 hatchlings

empty

6 hatchlings!

5 nestlings!

6 nestlings

1 egg,
5 hatchlings!

6 eggs

5 eggs

29-May

5 eggs

empty

6 eggs

5 eggs

6 hatchlings!

6 eggs

5 eggs

22-May

5 eggs

empty

6 eggs

5 eggs

6 eggs

1 egg

15-May

5 eggs

empty

3 eggs

5 eggs

6 eggs (!)

1 egg

4 eggs

Partial Nest

8-May

Complete Nest

empty

Complete Nest

2 eggs

Complete Nest

Partial Nest

1-May

Complete Nest

empty

Partial Nest

Complete Nest

SPARROWS!

Complete Nest

Partial Nest

July 10, 2007 FINAL UPDATE - Our birds have all fledged! We produced 15 martins this year.

Summary of nesting activity in our colony in 2007

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

10-July

Partial Nest

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

ALL GONE!

empty

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

3-July

Partial Nest

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

3 Nestlings

empty

6 Nestlings

Partial Nest

26-June

Partial Nest

5 Nestlings 1 Fledged

Partial Nest

3 Nestlings

empty

7 Nestlings

Partial Nest

19-June

Partial Nest

6 Nestlings

Partial Nest

4 Nestlings

empty

7 Nestlings

Partial Nest

12-June

Partial Nest

6 Nestlings

Partial Nest

5 Hatchlings

empty

7 Nestlings

Partial Nest

6-June

Partial Nest

6 Nestlings

Partial Nest

5 Eggs

empty

7 Hatchlings

Partial Nest

30-May

Partial Nest

3 Eggs & 3 Hatchlings

Partial Nest

5 Eggs

empty

7 Eggs

Partial Nest

22-May

Partial Nest

6 Eggs

Partial Nest

4 Eggs

empty

7 Eggs!

Partial Nest

15-May

Partial Nest

6 Eggs

SPARROWS!

empty

1 Egg

Partial Nest

8-May

Partial Nest

SPARROWS!

empty

Partial Nest

1-May

Partial Nest

SPARROWS!

empty

Partial Nest

July 20, 2006 FINAL UPDATE: After more than a week of blistering heat, the martins have gone elsewhere. The only time we see them is once in a while in the early morning around the colony. Two dead nestlings in gourd 3 attest to the negative effects of this heat wave. Those evidently did not fledge in time. The 3 eggs in gourd 4 will be left for another week and then removed. Our total fledged for 2006 is eleven birds.

Summary of nesting activity in our colony in 2006

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

20-July

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

2 dead nestlings

3 eggs

empty

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

13-July

Not checked this week

6-July

ALL GONE!

Partial Nest

5 nestlings

3 eggs!

empty

3 nestlings

Partial Nest

29-June

5 nestlings

Partial Nest

5 nestlings

Complete Nest

removed the sparrow nest

empty

3 nestlings & severe mite infestation

Partial Nest

22-June

5 nestlings

Partial Nest

5 nestlings

Complete Nest

possible sparrow nest

empty

4 nestlings

Partial Nest

15-June

5 nestlings, 1infertile egg

Partial Nest

4 hatchlings, 1 egg

Complete Nest

2 eggs

SPARROWS!

4 eggs, 1 hatchling

Partial Nest

8-June

6 eggs

Partial Nest

5 eggs

Complete Nest

SPARROWS!

5 eggs

Partial Nest

1-June

6 eggs

Partial Nest

5 eggs

Complete Nest

dead female, nest material removed

4 eggs

Partial Nest

25-May

not checked

19-May

Complete Nest

Partial Nest

Complete Nest

Partial Nest

no nest yet

11-May

Partial Nest

no nest yet

4-May

Partial Nest

no nest yet

Partial Nest

no nest yet

27-April

no nest yet

20-April

no nest yet

SPARROWS!

no nest yet

July 20, 2005 FINAL UPDATE: Our martins have fledged! All eight of our nestlings flew the coop within the last week. They are still hanging around the nest structure during the early morning, but they and their parents will soon be joining the migratory flocks as they prepare to go south for the winter. We were disappointed that only two of our gourds were used in 2005, but we were VERY pleased that the starling excluders worked!

Summary of nesting activity in our colony in 2005

Date

Nest 1

Nest 2

Nest 3

Nest 4

Nest 5

Nest 6

Nest 7

Nest 8

1-June

5 eggs

empty

1 egg

empty

8-June

5 eggs

empty

4 eggs

empty

15-June

5 hatched

empty

4 eggs

empty

23-June

4 nestlings

empty

4 hatched

empty

28-June

4 nestlings

empty

4 nestlings

empty

6-July

4 nestlings

empty

4 nestlings

empty

12-July

4 nestlings

empty

4 nestlings

empty

20-July

All gone!

empty

All gone!

empty

Summary of nesting activity in our colony in 2000
Date	Nest 1	Nest 2	Nest 3	Nest 4	Nest 5	Nest 6	Nest 7	Nest 8
1-May	Nest built	Nest built	Partial Nest	Nest built	Partial Nest	Partial Nest	Partial Nest	Twig
8-May	2 eggs	Nest built	Partial Nest	Nest built	Partial Nest	Partial Nest	Partial Nest	Twig
15-May	5 eggs	6 eggs	Nest built	6 eggs	Nest built	Nest built, 1 egg	Nest built	Twig
22-May	5 eggs	6 eggs	4 eggs	6 eggs	Nest built	3 eggs	4 eggs	Partial Nest
30-May	5 hatched	5/6 hatched	4 eggs	6 hatched	4 eggs	3 eggs	5 eggs	Partial Nest, 1 egg
5-June	5 nestlings	6 hatched	1/4 hatched	6 nestlings	4 eggs	1/4 hatched	3 eggs	Nest built, 5 eggs
12-June	5 nestlings	6 nestlings	4 hatched	6 nestlings	1/4 hatched	3 nestlings	3 hatched	5 eggs
19-June	5 nestlings, all banded	6 nestlings, all banded	4 nestlings	6 nestlings, all banded	1 hatched, 3 bad eggs	3 nestlings	3 nestlings	2/5 hatched
26-June	5 fledged	6 fledged	4 nestlings, all banded	6 fledged	1 nestling	3 nestlings, all banded	2 nestlings banded, 1 dead	2 nestlings, 3 bad eggs
3-July	5 fledged	6 fledged	4 fledged	6 fledged	1 nestling banded and 1 more egg (!)	3 fledged	2 fledged	2 nestlings banded
10-July	5 fledged	6 fledged	4 fledged	6 fledged	1 fledged, egg abandoned	3 fledged	2 fledged	2 nestlings banded

To learn more about Purple Martins and how you can become a Purple Martin landlord yourself, visit these websites.
The Purple Martin Conservation Association http://www.purplemartin.org/	The Purple Martin Society of North America http://www.purplemartins.com/
Questions or comments? Send Email to Jim Mason Or write us at: Great Plains Nature Center 6232 E. 29th Street North Wichita, KS 67220-2200 Call: 316-683-5499 Fax: 316-688-9555